Water Pipe Cleaning Tool

ABSTRACT

The present invention is an efficient tool  10  for cleaning the interior of a smoking bowl  30  and the interior of a pipe stem  40  of a water pipe comprising a rod shaft  1 , a first end  2  and a second end  3 , wherein the first end has a taper narrowing to a tip  4 , a groove  6  in the tip and a pair of teeth  8 A and  8 B, and the second end  3  has an aperture.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of Invention

This invention relates to an improved tool to quickly clean components of a water pipe, particularly the pipe bowl and the pipe stem.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Prior Art

Water pipes have been used for smoking tobacco and other substances for centuries. It has been suggested that water pipes were introduced in China during the late Ming Dynasty (16th century), along with tobacco, through Persia and the Silk Road. Some have suggested that water pipes were first developed in Arabia. Others believe the origins were in Thailand, while still others suggest that water pipes originated in Africa. In any case, water pipes have been in use for many centuries.

Traditional water pipes are often comprised of a cylinder having a closed end at the base which may be partially filled with water and an upper portion that allows the smoker's mouth to seal over it to draw in smoke from the substance burned in the smoking bowl. The smoking bowl often is funnel-shaped to receive and burn the tobacco and a small hole in its bottom for smoke to travel through to an attached pipe stem (often called a “down stem”), which is often a narrow glass tube. The pipe stem connects to the bottom of the smoking bowl at one end. The other end of the stem is inserted through the side wall of the lower portion of the cylinder. The stem is positioned part way into the cylinder, the lower portion of the stem being submerged in the water. Once lit, the smoker draws on the top of the cylinder, pulling the smoke from the burning substance in the smoking bowl, down the pipe stem, through the water and up the cylinder into the smoker's mouth and lungs. Drawing the smoke through the water cools the smoke and filters out unwanted smoke components. The entire water pipe can be made, for example, of glass, metal, ceramic or even bamboo.

While smoking a substance through a water pipe can be enjoyable, repeated use of the pipe tends to result in deposited build-up of tar and resinous material residue along the interior of the smoke passageway. This build-up can become particularly noticeable and objectionable on the interior surface of the smoking bowl and on the interior wall of the pipe stem as these portions of the water pipe are the first surfaces in the smoke passageway that encounter the hot smoke during use.

Smoking aficionados, however, typically prefer clean smoking instruments and do so for a number of reasons. A pipe that appears to be clean is not only more aesthetically pleasing, it also does not have adhering and objectionable tars and resin buildup that may be subject to re-burn, producing a harsher and less pleasurable smoke that the user would inhale. Furthermore, smoke from a clean pipe does not distort the purity of flavor of a particularly desirable smoking substance as there is no built up tar or resinous material from prior substances to contaminate the smoke passageway that might prevent fuller appreciation.

While a clean pipe apparatus is greatly desirable, methods to efficiently and quickly clean pipe components have had shortcomings. One method has been to partly fill the cylinder of the water pipe with some coarse salt and a solvent such as isopropyl alcohol and vigorously shake the admixture in the pipe to loosen, dissolve and remove tar buildup. While this method may have a desirable effect on the cylinder over a period of time, it is not only messy, but it is also difficult for the mixture to enter the narrow pipe stem and bowl. Moreover, the pipe stem and bowl can be quite fragile and vigorous shaking and handling of the pipe can result in undesirable breakage and destruction of these components.

Some have advanced a different method to separately clean the pipe stem and smoking bowl. It has been known in art to remove the bowl and stem from the water pipe and place them in a plastic bag partly filled with a solvent such as isopropyl alcohol, seal the bag and shake it back and forth sloshing the solvent around in the bag to and fro to dissolve the built up tar and resin deposited inside the bowl and stem. Although at times workable, this washing method relies on soaking the pipe stem and bowl and sloshing solvent around and through the components. It also is subject to disadvantageous spillage and leaks from a previously used or partially unsealed bag. This method also takes time for the tars and resins to dissolve and may take a number of applications for desired results. Such a method is also not particularly environmentally friendly as it employs use of a plastic bag and a substantial amount of solvent, often in multiple amounts, which is often disposed of down a sink drain after each application.

In sum, the referenced prior art cleaning methods and apparatus suffer from being cumbersome, ineffectual, time consuming, wasteful and not environmentally friendly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Objects and Advantages

An object of the instant invention is to provide a simple, fast, effective, convenient and environmentally friendly method to clean both the smoking bowl and pipe stem of a water pipe through use of the present invention.

SUMMARY

The invention discloses a hand-holdable device comprising a rod shaft, a first end and a second end, the first end fashioned to conform substantially to the shape of the interior of a smoking bowl and having a groove to receive and retain a cleaning swab for cleaning the smoking bowl and the second end having an aperture to receive and retain a cleaning swab for cleaning the interior of a pipe stem.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention along with a couple of representative cleaning swabs.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing attachment of the cleaning swabs, one attached at each end of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing a folded cleaning swab attached to the first end of the tool and inserted in a smoking bowl of a water pipe.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing a folded cleaning swab attached to the second end of the tool and inserted in a pipe stem of a water pipe.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cutaway view of the second end of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention showing a folded cleaning swab attached to the first end of the tool, the first end being inserted in a smoking bowl of a water pipe.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing a folded cleaning swab attached to the second end of the tool, the second end being inserted in a pipe stem of a water pipe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment of the water pipe cleaning tool of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 shows a hand-holdable tool 10 that includes a flattened rod shaft 1, a first end 2 having a tip 4 and a second end 3. The first end 2 is shown in the form of a tapered head narrowing to form a groove 6 at the tip. The groove is bounded by a pair of teeth, 8A and 8B. The second end 3 includes an aperture in the form of a hole 5.

Shown also in FIG. 1, are representative cleaning swabs, two small sponges, a and b. As shown in FIG. 2, the groove 6 of the first end 2 has received a cleaning swab a. The hole 5 of the second end 3 is shown in receipt of a cleaning swab b.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first end 2 of the tool 10 is inserted into a water pipe smoking bowl 30 with a cleaning swab positioned in the groove of the first end 2 and folded over and against the inner surface of the bowl 30, which is tapered in a funnel-like shape. The first end 2 is preferably shaped tapered downwardly toward the tip and toward the longitudinal axis c of the tool, as shown, to mate substantially with the taper of the bowl interior. The entire tool may be flattened as shown. The first end may be flattened, as shown, and shaped like an arrowhead, or may, for example, be circumferentially formed in the shape of a cone. The first end may, alternatively, for example, have a blunted or rounded shape to conform in mating fashion to a rounded bowl interior. The swab may also be lengthened so that it extends in operation to at least the top of the bowl when folded over in application.

In operation of the invention, to clean residual tar and resins from the interior of a pipe smoking bowl, a swab is first doused with an appropriate cleaning solvent such as isopropyl alcohol and is nestled into the groove 6 of the first end 2 of the tool 10. The first end 2 with the swab attached is then inserted into the dirty smoking bowl so that the swab contacts the interior surface of the bowl. Alternatively, the swab may be placed initially in the bowl and squirted with solvent to begin dissolving the resinous material and then stabbed by the first end of the tool. Once inserted into the bowl, the tool 10 may be rotated and counter-rotated about its longitudinal axis by the hand of the operator so that the moistened swab physically interfaces with the dirty residue adhered to the interior surface of the smoking bowl, rubbing over, dissolving and loosening the residue and transferring it onto the swab. The pair of teeth 8A and 8B formed by the groove 6 on the first end 2 (see FIG. 1) stab the swab against the bottom of the bowl during operation and serve to inhibit slippage and disengagement of the swab from the actively turning first end 2. The flattened shape and mating taper of the first end 2 to the shape of the interior of the bowl 30 also helps keep the swab from twisting about the first end during operation. Should the swab become saturated with or become undesirably contaminated by the residue, the swab may be simply removed from the first end and disposed of and another swab substituted in its place for further bowl cleaning if desired.

As shown in FIG. 4, the second end 3 of the tool 10 is shown with a cleaning swab inserted into the hole 5 of the second end 3 and folded over inside a pipe stem 40. The second end 3 is appreciably narrower than the first end 2 so as to enable the second end to be entirely inserted into the pipe stem, which is typically a narrow and lengthy tube. In the present embodiment, the entire tool 10 is flattened as is the entire rod shaft 1. The flattened surfaces of the second end 3 allow for a swab to be folded over inside the pipe stem and laid adjacent the flattened surfaces of the second end.

In operation, a swab is doused with appropriate cleaning solvent such as isopropyl alcohol and inserted into the hole 5 of the second end 3. The second end 3 with the swab attached is then inserted into the dirty pipe stem. Should the swab be of sufficient length and pliability, such as foam or cloth, it may tend to fold over inside the pipe stem (as can be seen in FIG. 4).

One of skill in the art will readily appreciate selection of the width of a rod shaft and second end that is slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the pipe stem sought to be cleaned so as to accommodate the second end and be of sufficient length to insert as much of the shaft of the rod as is needed to clean the desired length of the pipe stem. A preferred length of the invention is about 12 inches, about an inch of which is dedicated to the first end. Typical pipe stems have an internal diameter in the range of about 0.34 inch to about 0.48 inch. Accordingly, for such diameters, a preferred width of the rod shaft should be about 0.31 inch. The tool may be made from plastic, wood, metal or other substantially rigid material. Swabs can be chosen easily from materials such as polyurethane foam or to other flexible foam, or scraps of cloth and cut, as desired, to preferred size and shape.

As shown in FIG. 4, once the second end 3 is loaded with the attached solvent-doused swab and is inserted into the pipe stem 40, the entire tool 10 may be rotated and counter-rotated about its longitudinal axis and moved back and forth by the hand of the operator as desired so that the moistened swab physically interfaces with the dirty residue adhered to the interior surface of the pipe stem, the swab rubbing over, dissolving and loosening the residue and transferring it onto the swab. Once soiled, a new swab may be substituted and an additional round of cleaning may commence as desired.

FIGS. 5, 6, 8 and 9 show another preferred embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment shown in these figures depicts a cleaning tool 20 having a cylindrical rod shaft 11 and includes a first end 12 forming a tip 14 and a second end 13. The first end 12 is shown as a tapered head narrowing to form a groove 16 at its tip. The groove is bounded by a pair of teeth, 18A and 18B. The second end 13 includes an aperture in the form of a slot 15.

As shown in FIG. 7, the slot 15 is bounded by a pair of retaining projections in the form of hooks 17A and 17B. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the second end 13 also includes a pair of opposing troughs, 19A and 19B.

In operation, the first end 12 of the present embodiment of the tool 20 functions similarly to the first end 2 of the previously described embodiment of the tool 10. The second end 13 has an aperture in the form of a slot 15 and a pair of hooks 17A and 17B that help retain and secure the cleaning swab once it is inserted into the slot 15. Alternate embodiments may, for example, include retaining projections such as a single hook, more than a pair of hooks, points, teeth, etc. As shown in FIG. 9, the opposing troughs provide depressions in the second end 13 to accommodate folded portions of the cleaning swab to reside in during the cleaning operation. Such accommodation tends to inhibit twisting of the swab about the second end 13 during rotation of the tool thereby advancing greater portions of the swab within the stem for quick and efficient cleaning. Such troughs may also be included in the tool 10 adjacent the hole 5. To clean the interior of a smoking bowl 30 and pipe stem 40, this alternative preferred embodiment of the cleaning tool 20 is activated by the operator's hand as described above pertaining to the initial preferred embodiment of the tool 10.

As one can see from the drawings and the descriptions above, the present invention substantially advances the art of cleaning water pipe smoking bowls and pipe stems, a tool that provides a simple, fast, effective, convenient and environmentally friendly way to clean these pipe components.

Although the description above contains many details and specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but as provision of examples of some of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples provided. 

1. A water pipe cleaning device comprising: a rod shaft, a first end and a second end; the first end having a taper narrowing to a tip and including a groove; and the second end having an aperture.
 2. The water pipe cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the tip has at least one tooth.
 3. The water pipe cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the first end has a pair of teeth.
 4. The water pipe cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the device has a longitudinal axis and the taper of the first end narrows toward the axis.
 5. The water pipe cleaning device of claim 4 wherein the groove is positioned along the axis.
 6. The water pipe cleaning device of claim 3 wherein the groove is bounded by the pair of teeth.
 7. The water pipe cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the aperture is a hole.
 8. The water pipe cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the second end includes at least one trough.
 9. The water pipe cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the aperture is a slot.
 10. The water pipe cleaning device of claim 9 wherein the slot is bounded by at least one retaining projection.
 11. The water pipe cleaning device of claim 10 wherein the at least one retaining projection is a hook.
 12. The water pipe cleaning device of claim 9 wherein the second end includes at least one trough.
 13. The water pipe cleaning device of claim 9 wherein the second end includes a pair of opposing troughs.
 14. The water pipe cleaning device of claim 9 wherein the device has a longitudinal axis and the slot is formed along the axis.
 15. The water pipe cleaning device of claim 13 wherein the opposing troughs are aligned parallel to the axis.
 16. The water pipe cleaning device of claim 9 wherein the device has a longitudinal axis and the taper of the first end narrows toward the axis.
 17. A water pipe cleaning device comprising: a rod shaft, a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis; the first end having a tip with a pair of teeth and a taper narrowing toward the tip and toward the axis and further including a groove formed at the tip and along the axis; and the second end having an aperture in the form of a hole.
 18. The water pipe cleaning device of claim 17 wherein the rod shaft, first end and second end are flattened.
 19. A water pipe cleaning device comprising: a rod shaft, a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis; the first end having a tip with a pair of teeth and a taper narrowing to the tip and toward the axis and further including a groove formed at the tip and along the axis; and the second end having an aperture in the form of a slot, the slot being bounded by at least one retaining projection, the second end further including a pair of opposing troughs aligned parallel to the axis.
 20. The water pipe cleaning device of claim 19 wherein the first end is flattened. 